A Win Is A Win

What a difference a week makes.

After week #1, the Browns were steamrolling downhill, seemingly headed toward another long, painful season in the eyes of most objective observers.

That may still be the case, time will tell.

One week later, they sit at 1-1 going west to play a very beatable Oakland team in week #3.

I won’t even try to begin to explain the 51-45 win over the Bengals. I can’t. I’m not smart enough to figure this one out.

They got the W. That’s all that matters.

I can’t explain how Carson Palmer threw six touchdown passes and lost.

I can’t explain how Derek Anderson made like Dan Marino, putting up a career-game just one week after looking so terrible in the opener and through much of the pre-season.

I can’t explain how the Browns had a quarterback throw five touchdown passes and have a 200 yard rusher in the SAME GAME. I wonder how often that has happened in the NFL?

I can’t explain a game where two NFL teams combine for well over 1,000 yards of offense.

None of it makes any sense. But who cares?

The Browns got the W. That’s all that matters.

Now there is some hope where there was once total despair. Everyone associated with the Browns will sleep much better tonight. Okay, everybody but the defensive coaching staff.

At least for one week, Browns’ fans can hold their heads high – they beat a divisional foe at home and sit at .500 heading west.

Forget the over-analysis of this one. This game was a freak – a contest that defies description. We aren't likely to see anything like this for a very long time.

The Bengals pulled a trifecta of total defensive incompetence – they never got near the passer, they had numerous busted coverages and could not stop the run.

The Browns were almost as bad on that side of the ball – thankfully, just almost.

Had they lost 52-51, Browns’ fans would be miserable once again this evening, whining about bad football and bad karma.

Instead, they got the W. That’s all that matters.

It’s the NFL remember - where parity rules.